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- [Mark] This is Mark
Isselhardt, Maple Specialist

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with University of Vermont Extension

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and this is another Vermont Maple Minute.

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Sugar Maple flowers that
are fertilized in the spring

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will develop into mature
seeds in late summer.

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The seeds come in the
form of winged samaras,

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sometimes referred to as
helicopters or whirligigs.

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Sugar Maple samaras develop in pairs,

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but generally, only have
one viable seed per pair.

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In late summer of heavy seed years,

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tree crowns can appear brown
as the wings change color

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from green to tan or brown.

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The wing shape allows the seed
to travel great distances,

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100 yards or more beyond the parent tree,

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which in turn, increases the survival rate

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and genetic diversity of the species.

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Maple seeds germinate at
around 34 degrees Fahrenheit.

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This is one of the lowest
germination temperatures

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of all forest trees

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and germinated seed can regularly be found

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before the snow disappears.

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Sugar Maple is generally very
successful at germinating

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with roughly 95% success rate.

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But just because a seed germinates

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doesn't guarantee it will grow
to become a tappable tree.

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Less than 50% of all seedlings
survive the first year

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and since many species of wildlife enjoy

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the seeds as a food source,

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the numbers will go down from there.

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This is Mark Isselhardt, Maple Specialist

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with the University of Vermont Extension

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and this has been another
Vermont Maple Minute.